Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-07-09
AS so PATERNITY.
THE SOClALISTlC DOCTRINE
TRULY DEMOCRATIC.
The Functions of the C0llectiyity--
Self.GOyernmcnt in Politics and
EcOnOmy-A Chance TO De-
yelop The Title to
Property is Work.

1t Is difficult for rs to understand
how the Union Printer can desig-
nate the kind of administration which
Laurence Gronlund has deliniated,
as ''paternal goyernment'-whch
ironical expression means, of course,
despotic government. Henry
George himself is reported to have
expressed himself about it in the
same way.
How can such mistake be COM
mitted when Gronlund says (''In-
sufliciency of Henry Georges Theo-
ries," page l8):
1--WE do not for moment contem-
plate that the State, even when demo
cratically organized, shall do all the ma
tons business, or even Il considerable
part thereof Not to speak of this that
all local affairs will be controlled by the
various localities, we contemplate that
the business of the nation will be carried
on as cooperative business is carried
on now by associations or trades unions,
if you will call them so, which them
selves determine the functions Of their
members, their hours of work. and
freely distribute their earnings among
themselves The cpIlcctivity will only
have the three functions Of being Cen
erdi Manager, General StdtjSficidH and
General arbitrator. As StatiGtician, it will
determine how much it is to he pro-
duced; as Manager; distribute the work
and see to it that it is performed; rs
Arbitrator, it will see Justice done be-
tween association and association, be-
tween association and members. Then
liberty will be realized for the first time,
for dependence on indirhintis WW cease !;
individuality will, for the first time. have
IA real opportunity of developing Itself,
and property will be placed on an unim-
peachable basis, that of being the result
of ones own eXertions. ErcrW'"fY WW,
for the first time, haren chcHce Of noftiy-
uig property.
This is the solid democratic doc
trine-and is it not truly demo
cratic? Is there a trace of dcspot-
ism, of arbitrary government in it.?
Is this kind Of commonwealth any
thing but a scIf-government Of the
people, through and by the people,
not only in politics, but likewise in
economy, in production and dis
tribution OF product? 1t is not
a general agreement among
all the workers about what their
work shall be worth, and what the
income of everybody shall be?
The majority, of course, will have
to decide all questions, but Uhc
minority will be represented and
will be able to develop into ma or
ity by their better reasons; and a
general improved system of cduca-
tion will render the majority So
reasonable and just that universal
satisfaction may by and by result.
This kind of government is the
only one which can realize rational
and just administration of all con-
Germs. There is no more obstacle to
such an Outcome-nO more arbitrary
power, no more means in the hands
of individ uals to bribe, to force, to
Overwhelm human equal rights. No
more soldiers, no more police officers
are necessary to enforce behests
which are not approved by common
consent. Nobody need any longer
be poor, unintelligent, powerless,
bred into servitude, and nobody can
be very rich, powerful and overbear-
ing. If perfection i'll the distribu-
ton of wealth and power should from
the outset be lacking in such So
ciety- may be eXpected-why,
that perfection must more and more
develop itself, every years new agree
ment eliminating more and more all
just causes for complaint.
When We analyze the fundamental
causes of all the ills of society we
find that they consist in unequal dis
tribution of the products of work, in
unequal education and in the un-
equal chances for the choice of a